Marieke van der Heijden has been affiliated with the Dutch National Ballet Academy since 2001 as a teacher of classical ballet in the pre-NBA classes and since 2019 also as a teacher of Progressing Ballet Technique. She is also coordinator of the pre-NBA program. Because of her great skill and enthusiasm she knows better than anyone how to transfer ballet technique to young children. Marieke van der Heijden coordinates the Scouting and Outreach Programme of the Dutch National Ballet Academy.

In 1995, Van der Heijden graduated from the Theater Dance teacher training course at the Theater School (now: Academy of Theater and Dance) in Amsterdam, specializing in classical ballet, children's dance and modern dance. After dancing and teaching in various places, she took over Balletstudio Loes Jongejan in 1999. Under her inspiring leadership, the school – renamed Balletstudio Marieke van der Heijden – grew into a widely known amateur school for classical ballet, whereby an intensive collaboration was also established with the Dutch National Ballet Academy.

Van der Heijden is also ABT® Certified Teacher pre-primary - level 5 and Certified Teacher Progressing Ballet Technique®. She regularly gives refresher courses at the National Ballet Academy, Holland Dance Festival and the Henny Jurriëns Studio, among others, aimed at guiding young talent and teaching ballet technique and use of teaching structures to young dance students.